Last week, a television reporter filed a lawsuit against her former employer alleging that she was discriminated against because she is white.  The reporter was terminated following a post on her employer’s Facebook post that included her reactions to a mass shooting at a backyard barbeque in Pennsylvania.  Many critics called the reporter’s post racist.  The reporter’s lawsuit argues that her comments were judged differently, and more harshly, than comparable conduct of an African American employee.  Her suit also pointed out that African Americans have made statements similar to hers without negative reaction.

Discrimination

• Harvard Business Review explained that unconscious bias gets in the way of performance reviews.
• The Washington Post analyzed the EEOC’s religious accommodation data to find out if the agency favored one religion over another.
• Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc. will hire 53 women and pay $492,000 to settle gender discrimination claims brought by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Entrepreneur covered a study that found diversity programs make workplaces less diverse.
• SHRM’s blog argued that first impressions matter in an OFCCP audit.
• After a server was awarded the “best butt” award, restaurant management was fired.

Technology

• John Sumer cautioned that human resources professionals must use predictive analytics with care.
• Fortune covered a critique of Wall Street hiring practices that combine applications, resumes, assessment data, and analytics.
• MIT Technology Review explained why we should expect algorithms to be biased.
• Inc. looked at what’s next for wearables in the workplace.
• New wearable technology is trying to mimic skin.
• Jon Hyman reminded employers that when they train employees on social media use they should cover confidentiality policies.

In other developments:

• HR Bartender handled telecommuting and reasonable accommodation issues.
• The New York Times discussed the fact that felons have a difficult time finding a job.
• The Department of Labor’s persuader rule is under fire in three lawsuits. One judge has found that employers are “likely to prevail” in preventing the implementation of the rule.